Kate Jarvik Birch's Blog, page 5

If I had a... Beard

Illustration by ME

My face is smooth and rather bland With hardly a hair in sight.There’s a tiny hint of peach fuzz On the left cheek and the right.But IF I had a BEARD, Oh, the things that I could do.Just imagine all the knick-knacksThat I could store inside it too.There’d be a place for all my pensAnd if I styled it with gelThere’d be a special shelf For all my notebooks there, as well.I’d have cubbies for all my favorite snacksPlus a drawer for salt and spices,Just in case I need some seasoningOn my buttered French Toast slices.And then, of course, there’d be a placeFor all my feathered friends,A soft brown nest with Leave and branchesFor sparrows, chickadees, and wrens.They’d sing me songsAnd fetch me treats And keep me groomed and sleek,‘Cause it takes a lot of timeTo keep this mane coiffed and chic.Oh, if I only had a beardAll my problems would be gone,But for now I guess I’ll keep this faceWith just this peach fuzz on it. 

Author Spotlight: Kelley Lynn

Kelley Lynn


Eventually the day came when the voices in Kelley Lynn’s head were more insistent then her engineering professor’s. So instead of turning to her Thermodynamics book, Kelley brought up a blank page on her computer screen and wrote. Somewhere along the way she became a Young Adult author.
Kelley was born and raised a Midwestern girl. She fills her free time with softball, soccer and volleyball. (Though you probably don’t want her on your volleyball team.) She occasionally makes guest appearances as a female vocalist for area bands.
ROAD TO SOMEWHERE is Kelley's second published book. FRACTION OF STONE, YA Fantasy, was published in March 2013 (Sapphire Stary Publishing). You can find Kelley hanging out at her blog, titled in her name, and her facebook author page. She loves to receive reactions to her work, authorkelleylynn@gmail.com. Kelley is a member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators.
Q&A
What was your favorite book as a child? How about now?
I don’t really do the ‘favorite’ book. I guess I’m not very committal. J ha! But I’d have to say that the most memorable from my childhood are The Boxcar Children, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Little House on the Prairie. I seriously couldn’t pick favorites today. Again, the whole noncommittal thing.
What made you decide to become a writer?
Honestly, the voices in my head wouldn’t shut up. I always had characters are stories floating around up there and one day I wondered…what would it take to publish a book? I Googled ‘How do I publish a book?’ and it just never stopped after that. I’m kind of addicted now.
Do you have a favorite genre to write? How about to read?
Nope and…nope. That whole noncommittal thing again. J But honestly, I’ve written Young Adult in Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Dystopian. ROAD TO SOMEWHERE (released through Bloomsbury Spark on March 11th!) is my first, but definitely not my last, Contemporary.
How long does it take you to draft a novel? Tell us a bit about your writing process.
Haha. You should ask Jenny S. Morris, my collab author for ROAD TO SOMEWHERE, this question. Usually I’m a complete panster (I write by the seat of my pants). But you can’t really write that way with a partner. When I’m writing a solo project I don’t outline. I’m just as surprised as to what happens next as the reader is. The fastest I’ve ever written a first draft is ten days. Usually it takes me less than three weeks. (So I write it very fast, but it needs A LOT of edits before I’ll show it to anyone.)
What are you working on now?
Right now Jenny and I are working on the sequel to ROAD TO SOMEWHERE. I’m going through the first round of edits of a YA Science Fiction titled ONE WISH AWAY (Bloomsbury Spark, July 2014) I’m working on the finishing touches to the second book in The Fraction Series, FRACTION OF HOPE. (To be release late April, early May. The first book in The Fraction Series, FRACTION OF STONE, is available now.) I also have about twelve other ideas running around in my head I have to find time to get down.





















ROAD TO SOMEWHEREKelley Lynn and Jenny S. MorrisPublisher: Bloomsbury SparkPublish date: March 11, 2014
Synopsis:
From Bloomsbury Spark, a sunny heartwarming story of discovery and sisterhood. 
A road trip. A singing competition. And super-hot cowboys. 
What could be better? 
For Charlie, a post-high school road trip isn't just a vacation, it's life changing. While her parents think she's helping a friend move, a chance at fame is the real reason to grab her best friends and drive to L.A. But when her super annoying, uber-responsible, younger sister, Lucy, has to tag along, it isn't quite the summer of fun she imagined. 
Add in a detour to her grandparents' ranch in Texas, and between mucking the stalls, down-home cookin’, and drool worthy ranch hands, this could just turn into the best, and most complicated, summer of their lives.

If I had an... Auction

You grasp your plastic paddles with sweaty hands, arms poised. You can't be slow. Not here. The auctioneer's words are ready to sprint, each syllable raised onto tip toes like a man in cleats waiting for the gun to sound.
And you are ready too, aren't you? Ready to hear my life spilled out before you. But these aren't lamps and highboys you're waiting to bid on. No, this auction doesn't concern itself with useless things.
You are waiting to bid on the smell of my grandfather's garage on a muggy July day, all the musty memories of a ten-year-old's drowsy summer.
Or maybe you're saving your money for the taste of a lingering kiss or the feel of warm fingers brushed across exhausted lips.
Maybe you've come here today because you've heard that those long summer evenings might be up for grabs and you want them for your own. You want the sound of crickets and the rush of the river in the distance; the soft rustle of wind through the leaves; the smell of dirt and dust and the slight hint of sunscreen on bare arms and legs.
Get ready. The auctioneer smiles out into the crowd. 
"Our first item up for bids," he says, "is the chill of water on hot skin. The smell of chlorine. The distant whinny of a horse."
You grip your paddle. Ready.
"I'll start the bidding at five hundred. Five hundred. Five... to the lady on the first row. Do I hear six? Six..."

Cover Reveal: MY SOON-TO-BE SEX LIFE

Today I get to get to help reveal the cover of my pub sister, Judith Tewes', new book, MY SOON-TO-BE SEX LIFE.

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About My Soon-To-Be Sex Life: 
Charlie is down to her absolute. Total. Last. Resort.
Despite a thoroughly comprehensive list of potential cherry poppers, er…suitors, and careful plotting, Charlie is three weeks into her devirginzation campaign, still untouched, and getting desperate. In the movie of her life, this aspiring screenwriter is giving herself a PG, for please, get some.
Her project goes into freeze frame when her mom checks herself into rehab and packs Charlie off to live with her estranged, or just plain strange, grandfather, Monty. How is she supposed to get a date when she has to go pick up his Depends? 
Enter Eric, a hot rehab grad on the road to redemption, and the only one who can make Charlie rethink her strategy. The more she gets to know him, the more convinced she becomes that is the one, and not just another to add to the list of people who will abandon her.
In this hilarious and heartbreaking story of one girl’s detoured road to womanhood, Charlie’s list develops a life of its own – right when she realizes there’s so much more to lose.
Add to Goodreads









About the Author:

Multi-published, award-winning author, screenwriter, and playwright, Judith Tewes resides in small town Alberta, where she: writes, sings, plays bass guitar in an all-woman band, walks her three crazy labs, and suspects she's living the life of a superhero's alias. A commercial writer writing under several pen names, Judith’s work includes: paranormal, steampunk, and contemporary young adult fiction, as well as thriller, horror, and dramatic comedies for the stage and screen. 


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Author Spotlight: Jen McConnel

Jen McConnel
Jen first began writing poetry as a child. A Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. A graduate of Western Michigan University, she also holds a MS in Library Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.  When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches college writing composition and yoga. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories    for another time.


Q&A


If you could be best friends with another author (past or present), who would it be?
I would LOVE to be BFFs with Jane Austen. Can’t you just picture it? Afternoon tea with a side of scathing remarks about high society? I’d probably talk too much for her tastes, but I still think it would be so much fun to pal around with her.
What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
That’s a tough question, but I’m still swooning over THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI by Helen Wecker. It’s this beautiful mish-mash of historical fiction, fairy tale magic, and mystery. Absolutely a must-read if you like otherworldly tales!
How long does it take you to draft a novel? Tell us a bit about your writing process.
I’m a pantser when it comes to drafting, but a planner when I hit revisions. I tend to fast-draft, so I can usually finish a first draft in under two months. Then, I set it aside for a while to marinate while I rotate my attention to another project: I like to have two or three projects at different stages at a time. It may seem manic, but I’ve found that it helps me establish a rhythm.
Do you write every day? Do you set word goals?
I try to do something writing-related every day, and when I’m drafting, then I absolutely write daily. When I’m writing, I usually set a minimum goal of 1,000 words, but I’ve found my sweet spot is between 1k and 3k. It changes a little bit for every project, though, so I’m learning to be more flexible with myself.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I love yoga, and I teach it as well as practicing. I’m also lucky enough to live near a great park, and my husband and I try to take a walk every evening. Like many writers, I’m an avid reader, too, so one of my favorite pastimes is curling up on the couch with a new book.





















DAUGHTER OF CHAOSJen McConnel308 pagesPublisher: Month9BooksPublish date: March 25, 2014
Synopsis:
Nothing is more terrifying than the witch who wields red magic.
There comes a time in every witch's life when she must choose her path. Darlena's friends have already chosen, so why is it so hard for her to make up her mind? Now, Darlena is out of time. Under pressure from Hecate, the Queen of all witches, Darlena makes a rash decision to choose Red magic, a path no witch in her right mind would dare take. As a Red witch, she will be responsible for chaos and mayhem, drawing her deep into darkness. Will the power of Red magic prove too much for Darlena, or will she learn to control it before it's too late?
Learn More Month9Books | Goodreads |

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Want to learn more about Jen and her books? Find her here:
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To Theme or Not to Theme

April is right around the corner, which means it's time again for the A-Z Challenge. For the first time this year, I'm considering having a theme instead of just posting random posts about whatever tickles my fancy at the moment. Although fancy tickling IS extremely appealing, I figured it might be a bit more challenging (and interesting) to have a little more direction. 

So now comes the difficult part, choosing an idea that will hold my interest (and hopefully the interest of whomever stops by this blog) for a whole month. I was hoping YOU might have some input. Here are some of the ideas of been toying around with. Do any of them sound interesting to you???

1. My favorite things- probably lists, maybe some poems, but definitely all the things I love.
2. The Writing Life- a little bit of craft, a little bit of business and hopefully some inspiration... 
3. Imagery- a chance to look closely at things and hopefully write some beautiful words.4. If I had- If I had an ant eater, if I had brown eyes, if I had a cat's tail... you get the picture.5. What if- a chance to use my favorite phrase every day for a month and possibly come up with some fun new ideas for books.6. Creating Characters- a new character for each day. I'm often very plot driven, so I thought it would be a fun exploration to really think about characters.7. Story Book ideas- a new idea for a picture book each day.8. Vocabulary: a new fun word each day used in a sentence, passage, or poem.
So, do any of those ideas sound appealing to you? Weigh in now or forever hold your peace(or at least during the month of April). 

Author Spotlight: Ashley Poston

Ashley Poston

·      Graduating from the University of South Carolina, she interned at Random House Publishers with Kodansha USA, where she (helped) edit the Sailor Moon manga and that was really, really, really cool. She wrote a play that won some awards, and can quote every Motion City Soundtrack lyric by heart.
She currently lives in South Carolina with her cat (aka her soulmate) and a plethora of books. When she’s not writing, she’s going to the movies (her second favorite past time) or taking extravagant road trips (her third favorite past time).

Oh, and she’s naturally redheaded, so she’s already stolen your soul.
Q&A
What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?
Diana Wynne Jones. She was, and will always be, the author I look up to for character development and lyrical prose. I must’ve read Dogsbody and Howl’s Moving Castle a hundred times by now. She had the ability of making the fantastical something so ordinary and so grounded, it made me want to believe that magic could exist. That it was possible, not in a Harry Potter way, but subtly---magic just out of the corner of your eye.
What was your favorite book as a child? How about now?
As a child, I had these huge picture books with odd and unknown fairytales in them. Tom Thumb, The Parrot Shaw, the Monkey King---I read them so often they fell apart at the binding. Today, my favorite books are still fairytales---Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Princess Bride by William Goldman, and Dragon’s Bait by Vivian Vande Velde.
What made you decide to become a writer?
To be honest? Fanfiction. I started writing fanfiction in fifth grade, and I haven’t stopped since.
How long does it take you to draft a novel? Tell us a bit about your writing process.
Each book is a little different. The Sound of Us took close to twelve drafts to complete, and that took roughly five years. I usually can draft a story in a month, but then I set it down for another month or two, and then pick it back up with fresh eyes, edit it, and rewrite it again. I like editing a lot more than drafting---drafting feels like scraping my feet across hot coals, while editing is like waltzing.
Is there a character in your novel that you particularly relate to?
Oof, tough question. There are a few characters that I can relate to, but I think Boaz in The Sound of Us is a dead-ringer, brah. He has a lot of character flaws and history that isn’t explored in The Sound of Us that I hope can be explored in a later book. He’s really a very vibrant, fresh character, and he brings a lot to the table.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a space pirate fairytale retelling. It’s like Firefly meets iRobot. Lots of gunfights, swordfights, espionage, blood, murder, romance, kissing, extravagant galas, kickass spaceships, and a small pinch of Sailor Moon. Phew!




















THE SOUND OF USAshley Poston202 pagesPublisher: Bloomsbury SparkPublish Date: Dec. 19, 2013
Synopsis:

 America's favorite pop band, Roman Holiday, is done, dead, and so totally last year. For eighteen-year-old rockoholic Junie Baltimore, this is music to her ears. But when she discovers their sexy ex-lead singer hiding out on the boardwalk, her summer vacation becomes the cover story of the year.
She's willing to keep him a secret, but when a sleazy paparazzo offers her the cash she needs to save the bar her father left behind, could she sell out for the chance to save her future? Who is she kidding? That's a no-brainer...but she never planned on falling head over heels for the lead singer.  
    Want to learn more about Ashley and her book? You can find her here:
o   www.ashleynposton.como   yalitquotes.tumblr.com <-- (headmistress)o   twitter.com/ashpostono   luminosocomic.tumblr.com <-- (co-creator)

Author Spotlight: Sashi Kaufman

Sashi Kaufman
Sashi is an English and science teacher who lives in Westbrook, Maine with her husband and daughter. THE OTHER WAY AROUND is her first YA novel. She believes ice cream is a vitamin and is an amateur trash picker.





Q&A
What’s the best book you’ve read recently? 
I recently read Winger by Andrew Smith and I just tore through it! It’s everything I love in YA -smart, funny, great first person voice, perfectly captures the drama of being a young adult without ever resorting to stereotypical characters or situations.       What is the most rewarding part of writing? 
This may sound dorky but I think the most rewarding part for me personally is telling myself a story that I love -making myself laugh with a great line or making my stomach do twists with a great kissing scene.     
Do you write every day? Do you set word goals?
I try and write every day and that IS the goal for me. I usually have a loose two page goal but sometimes that’s taken up by dialogue and sometimes the two pages becomes four or five. But the most important part is getting my butt in the seat every day if possible.
Do you have any writing rituals? How about any favorite writing spots? 
I always reread the previous day’s writing before I start. I almost always write at my desktop in a room in my house we call “the cave”. It’s really just a guest room with thick wall-to-wall carpet. Even though it’s not always possible I try and leave myself notes about what’s going to happen next before I exit out of the document. I leave the notes in all caps so I remember it’s not part of the main text. I’m sure a program like Scrivener has a neater way to do this but I’ve never gotten around to trying it.
Is there a character in your novel that you particularly relate to? 

In my book The Other Way Around my main character is a sixteen year old boy. While there are lots of parts of his personality I don’t identify with, I connect with the way he’s an observer, with the way he falls in love with the wrong person -which I did a lot of in my pre-married days, and with the way he sometimes says things to be intentionally provocative. I’m not super proud of that last trait but it is one I relate to.   




THE OTHER WAY AROUNDSashi Kaufman288 pagesPublisher: Lerner/Carolrhoda LabRelease date: March 1, 2014 
Summary: Andrew West goes to an all-girls school and he still can’t get a date. If that’s not bad enough, his Mom is the headmaster. Everyone seems to have the wrong idea about Andrew. His teachers think he’s a good student who doesn’t apply himself -he really is trying. The kids at his old school thought he was a goth. His cousin Barry thinks he’s gay.
When his Thanksgiving break goes tragically awry he decides to run away. He catches a ride with a strange group of older teenagers. The Freegans are street performers and dumpster divers. As Andrew travels the country with his new friends, he leaves behind the expectations of others and discovers what he expects of himself.
Want to learn more about Sashi and her book? Find her here:
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Indiebound
Amazon

PERFECTED Cover Reveal & Giveaway

I've been dying to reveal the cover for my YA novel, PERFECTED, coming this July from Entangled Teen. I can't wait until the day I can actually hold it in my hands, but until then, I'll make do staring at my computer screen.

And now you can too.... 

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Synopsis:

Ever since the government passed legislation allowing people to be genetically engineered and raised as pets, the rich and powerful can own beautiful girls like sixteen-year-old Ella as companions. But when Ella moves in with her new masters and discovers the glamorous life she’s been promised isn’t at all what it seems, she’s forced to choose between a pampered existence full of gorgeous gowns and veiled threats, or seizing her chance at freedom with the boy she’s come to love, risking both of their lives in a daring escape no one will ever forget.

For fans of Lauren Oliver’s Delirium and Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden series, PERFECTION melds the feel of The Handmaid’s Tale with the historic underground railroad and wraps it in a glamorous — and dangerous — bow.


| Goodreads | Amazon |

Music plays a central role in PERFECTED's plot, so it seemed only fitting to give away an iTunes gift card in celebration of it. Enter below.

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Author Spotlight: Jenny Kaczorowski

Jenny Kaczorowski


Born and raised near Cleveland, Jenny earned her degree in photojournalism from Kent State University before vowing to never spend another winter in Ohio and moving to Los Angeles, where there is far too much sunshine. Amid working as a grant writer a non-profit that teaches music in inner-city neighborhoods, and raising two kids, Jenny writes for young adults. She likes her heroines smart and quirky, her heroes nice, and her kisses sweet. Apart from writing, Jenny is still an avid photographer, loves music despite no discernable musical talent, and reads the dictionary for fun. She lives near Los Angeles with her husband, son and daughter.
Q&A
Do you have a favorite genre to write? How about to read?
I love writing YA romance of any sort. My first several manuscripts were fantasies of varying sorts, but I really love writing contemporaries too. I’m in the earliest drafting stages for my third contemp, but I think I’ll work on one of my fantasy plot bunnies after that. I still mostly read speculative fiction – fantasy, sci-fi, whatever. I like a little weird in my fiction!
Do you write every day? Do you set word goals?
I do my best to write every day, even if it’s just making notes on my phone using Evernote. I have two kids under 4 and I work from home part time, so I don’t always get a chance to write, but I definitely suffer when I don’t. When I drafted THE ART OF FALLING, I had a very clear word count goal and finished it in about a month. Other than that, word goals tend to demotivate me because I miss a day or have a low day and I feel like I’ve failed. I do better just letting the stories flow.
Do you get more excited about characters or plot?
Characters! All my stories start with characters, then I slowly build worlds around them, then those two elements inform the plot. For FALLING, I had a very clear idea of who Bria was – what she wanted, how she reacted to thing – long before I knew how she would get what she wanted or what she would be reacting to. Even when reading, I have to have characters to connect to, someone I can cheer for and champion. Characters make me feel in a way plot does not.
What are you working on now?
I am working with my critique partner on polishing a draft of my second YA romance. It’s the story of Summer, a skater who wants to forget her past on the half pipe, and Bastian, a boy who wants a future beyond the bleeding disorder that defines his life. It’s been a long, rough drafting process, but I am really excited about how it’s shaping up! I’m also just beginning to draft my third YA romance, featuring Abby, one of the main supporting characters from THE ART OF FALLING. It’s really fun to see this character come into her own after two books with her on the sidelines!
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
I have a huge passion for photography and lug my giant DSLR camera just about everywhere, especially if I’m traveling. I love to see different cultures and photographs let me take that feeling home with me. My kids keep me pretty busy too. My son is almost 4 and my daughter is about a year & a half, so I’m constantly on my toes! Juggling preschool pick up and diaper changes with plotting out high school romances can a little crazy, but I hope one day they’re proud to have a momma who pursued her dreams.



















THE ART OF FALLINGJenny KaczorowskiPublisher: Bloomsbury SparkPublish date: Dec. 19, 2013
Synopsis:
For seventeen-year-old Bria Hale, image is everything. She’s a militant vegan with purple hair, Doc Martens and a permanent scowl. Kissing captain of the football team Ben Harris? Definitely not part of that image. Now with each secret kiss, she’s falling deeper for the boy every girl at Oceanside High is crushing on. Throw in a few forbidden bacon cheeseburgers and she’s facing one major identity crisis. Ignoring Ben should be easy, but when a flashy display of artistic spirit lands her in close quarters after hours with the boy she’s too cool to like, she can’t keep pretending those kisses meant nothing. With her reputation and her heart on a collision course, Bria must either be true to herself or to the persona she’s spent all of high school creating.
Want to learn more about Jenny and her book? Find her here:
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The Art of Falling:
Add it on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18619662-the-art-of-fallingAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Falling-Jenny-Kaczorowski-ebook/dp/B00GRMDW2IAudible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/The-Art-of-Falling-Audiobook/B00HHGE6LO/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1391034007&sr=1-1Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-falling-jenny-kaczorowski/1117666258?ean=9781619634695Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-art-of-falling iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-art-of-falling/id771320931?mt=11